Over the last few decades, cities are getting dramatically transformed by futuristic architecture. These architecture are ergonomically designed, adhering to different stylistic choices and making convenient use of spaces available, thus changing cityscapes into a more modern canvas. This brings us to some of the most notable architecture which have been transforming our world.
La Grande Arche de la Défense, Paris
Johann Otto von Spreckelsen’s landmark architecture was inaugurated in July 1989, with grand military parades that marked the bicentennial of the French Revolution. A 110-meter high cube, it completed the line of monuments that forms the Axe historique running through Paris. The white window-like box of La Grande Arche soon began to draw the energy of the city towards the business district of La Défense, enticing new hotels and corporate towers with its design aesthetics. Today, La Défense is a thriving financial centre.
Church of the Light, Osaka
Architect Tadao Ando has earned numerous plaudits for bringing Japan’s post-war architecture and its refined minimalism into the limelight. Completed in 1989, Church of the Light at Osaka is a shining epitome of his work. It’s a modest architecture, not much bigger than a house, located in a quiet suburb. Its most striking feature is the east-facing altar, where two gaps between a wall of four concrete slabs allow daylight to seep into the interior in the form of a cross, creating a striking contrast between the concrete and weightless light. Low-tech and completely devoid of ornaments, the church is one of the most significant expressions of the divinity of our times.
The Gherkin, London
30 St Mary Axe, also known as The Gherkin is an iconic commercial structure in London’s primary financial district, the City of London. It was completed in December 2003 and opened in April 2004. Totalling 500,000 sq ft and 180 metres high (41 floors), The Gherkin was designed by Norman Foster and Arup Group. Taking the Stirling Prize in 2004, the London Region Award and the Emporis Skyscraper Award, the Gherkin defined a new London, and stimulated the architectural landscape of a business district. It has been sold twice over the past decade.
KYMF clinic, Bangalore
Cadence Architects built a 30 bed dialysis centre in Bangalore, adjacent to the ancient South Indian Temple, respected by the neighbourhood for its architectural presence and religious value. The building façade is formulated by surfaces built out of brick. As the given plot was relatively small in relation to the required project, the design team decided to stack the wards vertically to accommodate the thirty beds. The slits between the bellowing shells allow light to seep into the building only to create a spatial and visual feeling that is divine and modern at the same time.
Aluminum Composite Panel or sandwich panel is a new age material that is used for building exteriors, interiors and signage. ACPs can be bent and shaped differently and allow greater design liberty. The composite panel technology itself was a great innovation and it comes as a handy tool for architects. And Aludecor is India’s foremost ACP brand, proudly associated with some of the major architectural projects all over India. Aludecor ACPs are fire retardant, recyclable and germ proof. The company also manufactures environment-friendly Copper Composite Panels and Zinc Composite Panels.
